Movies and TV shows influence and shape public perceptions. This is well known for topics such as (mental) health and perceptions of disease, and there is strong evidence that this is also true for cybersecurity and hacking. Hacking scenes are regularly shown in movies and TV shows, which makes the portrayal of hacking an interesting subject for research. In this work, we analyse 50 hacking scenes from movies and TV shows released between 2010 and 2022 to identify common themes, stereotypes, and discrepancies with real-world hacking practices. We examine aspects such as hacking methods, the outcomes and durations of attacks, the hacker appearance and their motivations. We find that hacking is often portrayed in an exaggerated and unrealistic way, particularly with regard to the short time required and the high success rate. Our findings highlight the prevalence of hacking as a “mystical” black box. Such misrepresentations can influence public perception of cybersecurity, potentially reinforcing misconceptions and undermining awareness of real-world security practices.